# Benjamin Baker Moeur > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Benjamin_Baker_Moeur > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Benjamin_Baker_Moeur.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Baker_Moeur > Source revision: 1353188039 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American politician (1869–1937)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Benjamin Baker Moeur | image = B. B. Moeur, 1934.jpg | order = 4th | office = Governor of Arizona | term_start = January 2, 1933 | term_end = January 4, 1937 | lieutenant = | predecessor = [George W. P. Hunt](/source/George_W._P._Hunt) | successor = [Rawghlie C. Stanford](/source/Rawghlie_Clement_Stanford) | birth_date = {{birth date|1869|12|22|mf=y}} | birth_place = [Decherd, Tennessee](/source/Decherd%2C_Tennessee), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1937|3|16|1869|12|22}} | death_place = [Tempe, Arizona](/source/Tempe%2C_Arizona), U.S. | party = [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) | spouse = | profession = [Physician](/source/Physician) }} '''Benjamin Baker Moeur''' (December 22, 1869 – March 16, 1937) was an American physician who served as the [fourth governor of Arizona](/source/List_of_governors_of_Arizona).{{cite web|url= http://tempehistoricalsociety.org/page13.html |title= Benjamin B. Moeur |website= tempehistoricalsociety.org |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080410182143/http://tempehistoricalsociety.org/page13.html |access-date=October 1, 2020|archive-date= 2008-04-10 }} ==Biography== Born in [Decherd, Tennessee](/source/Decherd%2C_Tennessee), Moeur attended medical school in [Little Rock, Arkansas](/source/Little_Rock%2C_Arkansas). After graduating in 1896, Moeur moved to Tempe, Arizona and started a medical practice. He was a representative for [Maricopa County](/source/Maricopa_County) at the [State of Arizona Constitution Convention](/source/Constitution_of_Arizona) in 1910. He also served on the Tempe School Board and served as the Secretary of the Board of Education for Arizona State Teacher's College (the precursor to [Arizona State University](/source/Arizona_State_University)) in Tempe. During Moeur's governorship, a number of progressive reforms in areas such as working conditions and social security were carried out.[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=lVMwAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA6&dq=GOVERNOR+MOEUR+MINIMUM+WAGE+ARIZONA&article_id=6343,4811555&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjejvq15aGTAxUFaEEAHVvaLQUQ6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=GOVERNOR%20MOEUR%20MINIMUM%20WAGE%20ARIZONA&f=false Prescott Evening Courier 24 Aug 1934, P.11] He also mobilized the Arizona [National Guard](/source/United_States_National_Guard) to stop the construction on [Parker Dam](/source/Parker_Dam), which was being built primarily to divert more water to the [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles%2C_California) area. The mobilization was partly an embarrassment, as the troops arrived via an antiquated [steamboat](/source/steamboat), which became stranded. Its troops were rescued by workers from [California](/source/California) working at the dam. Moeur's primary motive, however, was later vindicated by the United States Supreme Court when it ruled that California and the Bureau of Reclamation were constructing Parker Dam illegally because the dam had never been properly authorized. Subsequent legislation rectified this error and construction continued apace.{{cite web|url= https://www.tempe.gov/government/community-services/tempe-history-museum/tempe-history/b-b-moeur|title= Benjamin Baker Moeur |website= City of Tempe |access-date=October 1, 2020}} Governor Moeur served two terms (1933–1937) and died 71 days after he left office. He died in Tempe, where he is buried at the [Double Butte Cemetery](/source/Double_Butte_Cemetery). ==Personal life== Moeur married Honor G. Anderson in 1896. His wife was the sister of [Guess Eleanor Birchett](/source/Guess_Eleanor_Birchett) who was known as "the Bird Lady of Tempe". {{cite web|url= https://www.azwhf.org/copy-of-1|title= Guess Eleanor Birchett (1881–1979) |website= Arizona Women's Hall of Fame|access-date=October 1, 2020}} ==Legacy== In 1939, as a WPA project, Tempe [Normal School](/source/Normal_School) (later known as [Arizona State University](/source/Arizona_State_University)) constructed the [B. B. Moeur Activity Building](/source/B._B._Moeur_Activity_Building) on the main Tempe campus. The building was originally the women's activity center, later being remodeled and used as the university's admissions office. The building now houses the Mars Space Flight Facility, a [NASA](/source/NASA)-funded research center directed by Dr. [Phil Christensen](/source/Phil_Christensen).{{cite web|url= https://cfo.asu.edu/moeur-building |title= B. B. Moeur Activity Building |website=Arizona State University|access-date=October 1, 2020}} Dr. Moeur has been honored since 1901 by the now Arizona State University via the Moeur Award. The Moeur Award is given to the student or students with the highest academic standing in terms of GPA, and is thus also considered the equivalent to a Valedictorian Award (which is not directly offered by Arizona State). {{cite web|url= https://alumni.asu.edu/asu-alumni-association-history |title= Benjamin Baker Moeur Awards |website= ASU Alumni Association |access-date=October 1, 2020}} {{clear}} ==Gallery== Tempe-Double Butte Cemetery-1883-Gov. Benjamin B. Moeur.JPG| The grave site of '''Benjamin B. Moeur '''; Sec. 04–283 in Double Butte Cemetery Tempe-Moeur Park-1933-1.JPG|Entrance to '''Moeur Park''' which was established in 1933 and is located on Mill Ave ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080410182143/http://tempehistoricalsociety.org/page13.html Biography at the Tempe Historical Society] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080311100856/http://www.asu.edu/tour/tempe/moeur.html Description of Moeur Building at Arizona State University] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100528075828/http://www.tempe.gov/historicpres/BBMoeurHouse.html Information on Moeur's historic home, listed on the Tempe Historic Property register] {{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=[George W. P. Hunt](/source/George_W._P._Hunt)}} {{s-ttl|title=[Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) nominee for [Governor of Arizona](/source/List_of_governors_of_Arizona)|years=[1932](/source/1932_Arizona_gubernatorial_election), [1934](/source/1934_Arizona_gubernatorial_election)}} {{s-aft|after=[Rawghlie Clement Stanford](/source/Rawghlie_Clement_Stanford)}} {{s-off}} {{succession box | before=[George W. P. Hunt](/source/George_W._P._Hunt) | title=[Governor of Arizona](/source/List_of_governors_of_Arizona) | years=1933–1937 | after=[Rawghlie Stanford](/source/Rawghlie_Clement_Stanford) }} {{s-end}} {{Governors of Arizona}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Moeur, Benjamin Baker}} Category:Democratic Party governors of Arizona Category:1869 births Category:1937 deaths Category:People from Franklin County, Tennessee Category:Politicians from Tempe, Arizona Category:Medical doctors from Arizona Category:School board members in Arizona Category:Arizona State University alumni --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Benjamin Baker Moeur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Baker_Moeur) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Baker_Moeur?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.